Streamlined cabinet: gender balanced but still not clean

The cabinet of the sixth administration was announced last night, and President Cyril Ramaphosa kept to the expectation – to a degree, but not completely – that he would cull those found to be unsuitable, or that were surplus to requirements. “We have made progress in examining the size and structure of the state, and will complete this work by the end of this administration,” he said during his State of the Nation Address earlier this year.

During former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure the size of the cabinet increased markedly, from 50 members under Thabo Mbeki and a lean 47 under Kgalema Motlanthe, to an overstuffed 73 by the time Zuma left office.

There are now 28 ministers, eight fewer than the previous cabinet of 36, and 34 deputy ministers. The reduction in size was an exercise in efficiency, Ramaphosa said. “To promote greater coherence, better co-ordination and improved efficiency, we have combined a number of portfolios, thereby reducing the number of ministers from 36 to 28.”

Half of the new cabinet members are women, and some ministries have two deputies – these are ministries that were combined. The Department of Trade and Industry joined that of Economic Development; Science and Technology joined with Higher Education and Training; and Arts and Culture joined with Sports and Recreation. Meanwhile, Environmental Affairs joined with Forestry and Fisheries, Agriculture combined with Land Reform and Rural Development, and Human Settlements joined with Water and Sanitation. The departments of energy and mineral resources also combined.

“We have also decided to add responsibility for infrastructure to the public works portfolio and to add responsibility for employment to the labour portfolio,” Ramaphosa said.

David Mabuza, after a delay while he met with the ANC’s integrity commission, remains deputy president. The committee had identified 22 party members as potentially unsuitable for public office – including Mabuza and Gwede Mantashe.

South Africans will note the absence in the new cabinet of controversial figures such as Bathabile Dlamini and Nomvula Mokonyane. However, some questionable choices still remain.

Ministry	Minister	Deputy minister
Basic Education	Angie Motshekga	Dr Regina Mhaule
Higher Education, Science and Technology	Dr Blade Nzimande	Buti Manamela
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development	Thoko Didiza	Sdumo Dlamini Mcebisi Skwatsha
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries	Barbara Creecy	Maggie Sotyu
Mineral Resources and Energy	Gwede Mantashe	Bavelile Hlongwa
Communications	Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams	Pinky Kekana
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma	Parks Tau Obed Bapela
Defence and Military Veterans	Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula	Thabang Makwetla
Employment and Labour	Thulas Nxesi	Boitumelo Moloi
Finance	Tito Mboweni	Dr David Masondo
Health	Dr Zwelini Mkhize	Dr Joe Phaahla
Home Affairs	Dr Aaron Motsoaledi	Njabulo Nzuza
Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation	Lindiwe Sisulu	Pam Tshwete David Mahlobo
International Relations and Cooperation	Dr Naledi Pandor	Alvin Botes Candith Mashego-Dlamini
Justice and Correctional Services	Ronald Lamola	John Jeffery Inkosi Phathekile Holomisa
Police	General Bheki Cele	Cassel Mathale
Ministry in the Presidency	Jackson Mthembu	Thembi Siweya
Ministry in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities	Maite Nkoana-Mashabane	Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize
Public Enterprises	Pravin Gordhan	Phumulo Masualle
Public Service and Administration	Senzo Mchunu	Sindy Chikunga
Public Works and Infrastructure	Patricia De Lille	Noxolo Kiviet
Small Business Development	Khumbudzo Ntshavheni	Rosemary Capa
Social Development	Lindiwe Zulu	Henrietta Bogopane-Zulu
Sports, Arts and Culture	Nathi Mthethwa	Nocawe Mafu
State Security	Ayanda Dlodlo	Zizi Kodwa
Tourism	Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane	Fish Mahlalela
Trade and Industry	Ebrahim Patel	Fikile Majola Nomalungelo Gina
Transport	Fikile Mbalula	Dikeledi Magadzi

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